FIP Actively Involved in Global Health Issues

February was a busy month for FIP, as the Federation was well represented at various meetings and conferences focussing on current high profile health care issues.

18th -20th February: FIP was present at the WHO meeting on Counterfeit Medicines. During the two and a half day event key stakeholders numbering150-200, from member states, WHO, industry and Non-Government Organisations discussed the current global situation regarding counterfeit medicines. The meeting confirmed the initiative to set up the International Medical Products Anti Counterfeiting Taskforce (IMPACT) in order to put in place a network and framework of representatives poised to take immediate action against the growing threat of counterfeit medicines. WHO hopes to establish at least five subgroups under the taskforce: Technologies, Legislation, Enforcement, Regulatory and Risk Communication. WHO was seeking input from health professionals representatives particularly in the Risk Communication group.

Resulting resolutions from the meeting will be forwarded to the WHO World Health Assembly to take place in Geneva in May.

23rd February: FIP was present at the World Health Organization Nongovernmental Organization Health Promotion Workshop; From Vision to Action: NGOs Promoting Health in a Globalised World. Meetings were held gathering WHO Non-Governmental Organizations for the ultimate goal of developing a WHO-NGO Action Plan on Health Promotion. The overall goal of the initiative is to mobilise, encourage and strengthen NGO actions for health promotion at a local, national, regional and global level, concurrently advocating greater awareness of health promotion among NGOs and civil society. FIP has now been admitted into the WHO NGO Ad-Hoc Advisory Group on Health Promotion.

22nd-24th February: The 2nd International Alliance for Patients’ Organizations (IAPO) Global Patients’ Congress saw representatives from FIP involved in both formal and informal discussions on healthcare issues from the view of the patient and patients’ organization, and how effective networking and communication between patients, healthcare providers, industry and the media can be used to improve overall patient care and opportunities. The Congress resulted in the launch of the Declaration on Patient-Centred Healthcare: Patient Centred Healthcare is the way to a fair and cost-effective healthcare system, which encourages the upholding of five key priorities: Respect; Choice and Empowerment; Patient Involvement in Health Policy; Access and Support; and Information.

FIP looks forward to many future initiatives that involve the pharmacist in the betterment of patient care through patient involvement.